Swansea Channel dredging
Project overview
Transport for NSW Maritime is funding dredging of Swansea Channel to improve navigation and provide access to Lake Macquarie.
Latest news
November 2023 - Dredging progress update
The current dredging campaign in the Swansea Channel involves three areas:
- the Dog Leg
- the Swan Bay Entrance
- the Drop Over
As per our last update, we indicated that the first section of work in the Dog Leg area would be completed by the end of November.
Movement of sand within the Dog-Leg section is complete, with a post-dredge hydrographic survey scheduled for next week to ensure the desired depth and width has been achieved.
The work on the Dog Leg involved the vast majority of sand movement and improves movement through the channel. However, we understand that some vessels with larger drafts may still be impacted until the other two sections are also complete.
Upon completion of hydrographic survey at the Dog Leg section, the dredge will move to the Swan Bay Entrance and the Drop Over to remove the remainder of sand, which is about 3,000 cubic metres.
The campaign of all three areas is expected to be completed by mid-December, weather permitting.
The dredge will still be operating in the channel until this time, and we ask vessels to be aware of dredging work taking place, including sand pipes within the water.
We will share the hydrographic surveys once they are completed, which may provide some additional information for boaters.
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October 2023 - Dredging progress update
Dredging of Swansea Channel is progressing, with approximately 7,000 cubic metres of sand removed from the Dog Leg section.
This section of the dredging work is expected to be completed by the end of November, at which time many boaters will have improved access through the Channel.
Work has been impacted by mechanical issues with the larger dredge vessel, however we have been able to continue pumping sand with a backup dredge machine in place.
While we work towards creating a 30-metre-wide navigable channel, Transport for NSW Maritime asks boaters to please navigate with extra care and observe all buoys and directions.
Sep 2023 - Dredging at the Swansea Channel
Dredging at the Swansea Channel began today after the Australian Maritime Safety Authority gave their approval for work to commence on Thursday 7 September.
The dredge will now move over 15,000 cubic metres of sand by the end of November, to create a 30 metre wide navigable channel.
Please navigate with extra care and observe all buoys and directions from NSW Maritime during these periods. We will keep you updated on the progress of this project.
Jul 2023 – Swansea Channel Dredging begins
Work has started as the NSW Government prepares to dredge the Swansea Channel for the summer boating season.
GPM Marine have been appointed to carry out the dredging. Work sites have been established at Naru Point and Rathmines Boat Ramp with the dredge being assembled before it is towed into Swan Bay to undertake mandatory assessments prior to dredging.
Work will then begin to remove up to 30,000 cubic metres of sand from the Swansea Channel bed via two dredging campaigns to create a safe, navigable 30-metre wide channel for boats.
Dredging will occur in the Main Channel of Swansea Channel east of Elizabeth Island. Our aim is to get the first round of dredging work done by the end of November prior to boating summer season.
Over the next couple of weeks we will be carrying out the following work which includes:
- Setting up environmental control in accordance with the REF
- Mobilising plant and equipment on Elizabeth island
- Constructing dewatering ponds on Elizabeth island
- Implementing changes to navigational aids.
- Assembling dredging infrastructure and installing pipelines.
- Carrying out dredging work.
We will keep you updated on the progress of this project.
Jul 2023 – Environmental approval received, dredging to start by end of July
Transport for NSW has received environmental approval to carry out maintenance dredging of the Swansea Channel and is planning to start by the end of July, subject to obtaining a Crown Lands dredging licence and weather conditions.
The dredging allows for the removal of up to 30,000m3 of sand over two dredging campaigns this financial year. We will confirm the start date for dredging once we have the Crown Lands Licence.
We will award the contract for dredging the Swansea Channel as soon as we have completed the tender review process and will publish the details on this page. You can read the Review of Environmental Factors (PDF, 24.83 MB).
May 2023 – Maintenance dredging planned for July
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has published a tender seeking to engage a contractor for the dredging of the Swansea Channel. The tender closes on 1 June 2023.
We are planning to carry out the first dredging campaign in July 2023, with a second campaign scheduled in Autumn 2024.
Each campaign will result in the removal of approximately 15,000 cubic metres of sand to provide a 30-metre-wide channel to a depth of -3.5 AHD. This will allow for vessels with a draft of up to 2.5-metre to travel through Swansea Channel.
We will continue to keep you updated on the progress and confirm a start date when we can.
In the meantime, some vessels can continue to use the alternative navigable route through the “Airforce Channel” which runs east-west between Naru Point and Lake Macquarie.
We will continue to monitor this channel’s bed levels and adjust navigation markers as required to help vessel skippers identify the safest navigable route.
Skippers are reminded to check the draught of their vessel and to keep a safe speed and proper lookout in this area. As always consider wash, the environment, and other boaters.
Feb 2023 - Navigating the Airforce Channel
Vessels can continue to use the alternative navigable route through the “Airforce Channel”, which runs east-west between Naru Point and Lake Macquarie and which is continuing to deepen naturally.
We will continue to monitor this channel’s bed levels and adjust navigation markers as required to help vessel skippers identify the safest navigable route.
Dec 2022 - Airforce channel is marked and operational
As part of ongoing monitoring of the channel, the “Airforce Channel” which runs east-west between Naru Point and the lake, has been naturally deepening and has been identified as suitable to provide an alternative navigational route into Lake Macquarie.
The “Airforce Channel” has now been marked with appropriate Aids to Navigation and is now operational and will provide temporary additional navigational access to and from Lake Macquarie.
Marine Rescue will broadcast this change via a Securite message on frequency 27MHZ and VHF16. The Australian Hydrographic Office and TfNSW Boating Maps will be updated.
Conditions and depths can change regularly so caution should be used when navigating either channel. Skippers of deep-drafted vessels of more than one metre are advised to carefully plan any trips through this channel, navigate with caution and, if in doubt, avoid the trip entirely. We would also like to remind skippers of their responsibility to assess conditions before negotiating any marine channel.
View or download the Swansea Channel Alternative Navigational Map (PDF, 215Kb) (PDF, 214.53 KB)
Dec 2022 - Project update
Transport for NSW planned to complete a dredging campaign prior to Christmas 2022 to assist navigation during the boating season.
Because of the discovery of endangered shore birds, including the Little Terns which are currently nesting on sand island until February, we are unable to start dredging at this time.
The dredging campaign will now take place following the end of the nesting season of endangered shore birds around February 2023.
As part of ongoing monitoring of the channel, we have identified that the “Airforce Channel” which runs east-west between Naru Point and the lake, has been naturally deepening and now provides an alternative navigational route into Lake Macquarie.
We will be marking the “Airforce Channel” with navigation markers in December to indicate the temporary additional navigational access into Lake Macquarie.
For more information, the latest community update (PDF, 219Kb) (PDF, 219.34 KB)with more information is now available.
Project information
Background
Swansea Channel connects Lake Macquarie to the Pacific Ocean and Is the only entrance to the popular boating area in the Hunter region. Lake Macquarie is twice the size of Sydney Harbour and the largest saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere.
The history of Swansea Channel indicates that this is not a natural continually open navigational channel into Lake Macquarie. Since 1970 Swansea Channel has been dredged 20 times.
Interventions such as the construction of the Lake Macquarie Entrance Breakwaters in the late 1800s were built to allow larger vessels in for industry purposes.
Due to the dynamic nature of Swansea Channel there will be continual need for interventions such as dredging to maintain the channel.
While there is good access to the lake for the majority of users with boats on trailers that can launch from one of the many boat ramps around the shoreline, maintaining access to the ocean through the narrow Swansea Channel is of major importance to recreational boating in the region, particularly cruising yacht clubs.
What are we doing?
Transport for NSW is developing short and long-term options to address the sand build-up at the Swansea Channel, to and ensure the channel remains clear and open to vessels.
Maintenance dredging work will be carried out this year and will remove up to 30,000 cubic metres and provide a 30 metre wide channel to allow for vessels with draft of up to 2.5 metre.
We are seeking approval of a 10-year plan to carry out maintenance dredging of the Swansea Channel. This will look at long term dredging solutions. We will also seek environmental approvals and licenses for larger dredging campaigns to be undertaken. These campaigns will be subject to funding availability.
Next steps
- All approvals and licences have now been obtained.
- A contract has been awarded to GPM Marine.
- The first section, the Dog Leg is expected to be completed by the end of November.
- The remaining two sections for this stage of dredging is expected to be completed by mid December. This will finish the first stage of dredging.
- We will monitor the Channel over the summer period and plan the second stage of dredging for early 2024.
Swansea Channel current navigation advice
Our dredging vessel is using pipes that are submerged in the water to pump sand to Elizabeth Island. With the dredge vessel moving daily so is the submerged pipes.
During our dredging work we encourage all boaters in the area to be aware and cautious of the dredge pipes. For the safety of workers and the community please keep well clear of the work. If you can avoid the area, please use the Airforce channel until the end of the project.
Navigational aids have been repositioned to ensure that the work can be carried out safely. Please follow direction of navigational aids in the area.
We will continue to monitor the water depth of the Airforce channel during dredging campaigns and reposition markers as required. Information on changes to navigation will be notified via Marine Notice.
Safe navigation through any channel is the responsibility of the vessels’s master, taking into account a range of factors including the size of their vessel, weather, tides, water depths and the speed at which the travel.
Conditions and depths can change regularly so caution should be used when navigating the area. Skippers of deep-drafted vessels of more than one metre are advised to carefully plan any trips in this area, navigate with caution and if in doubt, avoid the trip entirely.
Community information
Community updates
Project documents
Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG). If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us.
Environmental Approval
- June 2023 minor works review of environmental factors (PDF, 24.83 MB)
Swansea Channel dredging.
Navigational information
Contact us
For more information contact the project team:
Phone: 1800 271 100